Life Skills Market Competition

This new competition was created to teach 4-H members how to evaluate input costs and market value in order to estimate profitability and to teach 4-H members various marketing techniques to sell their products.

Criteria for Competition:

  • Open to any registered 4-H NS member. (Livestock and Life Skills alike)
  • Items must be non-perishable.
  • It is not necessary for the item to be a project item submitted at Achievement Day. However, if it is a project item, it may be only entered in the project class or the Life Skills Market Competition at
    county show.
  • The 4-H member must exhibit their brief, accurate, and concise marketing report which includes the following:
    • Description and photo of the product.
      • Include details that would make the product attractive to consumers. Members are encouraged to use this section to produce a marketing piece such as a print advertisement or social media post.
    • Explain the steps you would take to sell the product.
      • Where? Online or in person
      • When? Seasonal or year round
      • Promotion? Social media, advertising, word of mouth
    • Profitability analysis.
      • Include a complete list of expenses including labour, promotion, costs of selling, tools and materials to produce the product.
      • Include samples of comparable products and establish the selling price.
      • Evaluate the profit or loss of the item. Members are encouraged to expand on this section to evaluate if producing a larger quantity would be more profitable.

Competition Levels

  • County Show
    • Life Skills Market Competition entries (item & report) must be presented at the county show for evaluation to be eligible to move on to 4-H Nova Scotia Provincial Show.
    • There is no limit on the number of Life Skills Market Competition entries per county.
  • Provincial Show
    • How to Enter: A copy of your completed report from your county show must be submitted to 4-H NS via email to market@4hnovascotia.ca no later than September 1, 2023
    • Eligible items will be submitted to the Life Skills project drop off at 4-H NS Provincial Show.
    • Items must be dropped off between 1:00 and 3:00pm.
    • The top 10 items will be part of the live Market Auction Friday evening.
    • The remaining items will be placed in a silent auction. The silent auction will take place Saturday 8:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M. High bidders can pay for and collect their item Saturday Night 6:00–7:00 P.M. (Members who do not wish to sell their item in the live and/or silent auction can indicate this on their report.)
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